National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: Busting Myths About Jeff Hornacek

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:53 a.m. ET

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Everyone seems to have their own concern about Jeff Hornacek becoming the new head coach of the New York Knicks. Let’s address those gripes.

Jan 15, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek reacts from the sideline as they take not the Boston Celtics in the second half at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns 117-103. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

If you polled 100 fans of the New York Knicks, you’d likely find a relatively even split between those who support the decision to hire Jeff Hornacek as head coach and those who oppose it. Months later, it’s still a divisive issue.

Though there are fair reasons to be concerned, there are also misconceptions about Hornacek that need to be dispelled.

Hornacek doesn’t have a flawless resume, but he’s one of the better coaches in the NBA. He’s creative offensively and demanding on defense, which is the perfect combination for a veteran team.

Despite the generally positive things that have been said about Hornacek around the NBA, many are still skeptical.

Team president Phil Jackson knew just how much was on the line when he hired Hornacek to be the second full-time head coach of his still brief Knicks tenure. The Derek Fisher move failed for reasons other than basketball, which has thus elevated the pressure to new heights.

The question is: what are the myths being circulated about Hornacek and why shouldn’t you believe them?

Oct 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and head coach Jeff Hornacek against the Dallas Mavericks in the season opener at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

5. The Markieff Morris Situation

If you’re unfamiliar with the Phoenix Suns, then the only bit of information that you need to know is as follows. Robert Sarver isn’t a bad man, but he made a mistake that complicated the day-to-day operations below him.

No one paid a bigger price for Sarver’s outspoken nature than former Suns head coach and new New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek.

Markieff Morris broke out under coach Hornacek during the 2013-14 season, and then continued to produce in 2014-15. Off-the-court issues created something of a distraction, however, which Hornacek was attempting to manage in the locker room.

At the height of the issues, Sarver publicly called Morris out by stating that he’s an example of what’s wrong with millennials.

Per Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic:

“I’m not sure it’s just the NBA,” Sarver said. “My whole view of the millennial culture is that they have a tough time dealing with setbacks, and Markieff Morris is the perfect example. He had a setback with his brother in the offseason and he can’t seem to recover from it.”

If How To Destroy A Locker Room: 101 were a course at the University of Phoenix, Sarver’s interview would’ve been featured reading.

Morris and Hornacek’s disagreements weren’t what led to the Suns’ locker room falling apart in 2015-16. Instead, it was a combination of Sarver’s comments, Morris’ off-the-court decisions, and mistakes in the front office.

Following a 2013-14 season during which Phoenix won 48 games and Goran Dragic was named to the All-NBA Third Team, the Suns signed two star-caliber players at Dragic’s position.

With Phoenix sitting four games above .500 at the 2015 All-Star Break, the Suns then traded both Dragic and his backup, Isaiah Thomas, who has since become an All-Star.

Between Sarver’s comments and the front office’s decision making, it’s difficult to place the blame for Phoenix’s dysfunction on Hornacek.

Dec 18, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) shoots the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

4. The Myth, Part I: He Only Helps Guards

The most common misconception about Jeff Hornacek’s offense is that it’s only designed to help guards. Guards are given the opportunity to excel, but the stigma that his system receives is one that implies his big men get lost in the mix.

The reality of the situation is that the guards must be competent and decisive, but the frontcourt players play just as big of a role in the system’s success and failure.

In Phoenix, Hornacek ran layered pick and roll sets. A guard would come off of a high screen, as the pick and roll entails, but that’d often set up another pick and roll from 15 feet or within—a rather rare play.

That requires more than just a big body; it requires big men who know how to set proper screens, dive to the basket, and remain in motion to reach the right spot at the right time.

Furthermore, Markieff Morris had the best seasons of his career under coach Hornacek. He’s a shining example of how the system provides big men who can shoot with opportunities to space the floor and attack in isolation.

Coupled with Hornacek’s heavy use of high and low block post-ups, New York Knicks big men Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah are about to play in the perfect system for them.

Jan 11, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reacts to a foul call against the Washington Wizards during the second half at the United Center. The Wizards defeat the Bulls 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

3. The Myth, Part II: He Only Coaches Offense

Many New York Knicks fans were disappointed with certain aspects of the coaching search. When news broke that both Tom Thibodeau and Frank Vogel were interested in the position, thoughts of the 1990s immediately prevailed.

Though Jeff Hornacek isn’t quite on Thibodeau or Vogel’s respective levels as a defensive coach, there isn’t much evidence to support the belief that he can’t be.

In 2013-14, the Phoenix Suns ranked No. 13 in points allowed per 100 possessions and No. 14 in opponent field goal percentage. In 2014-15, Phoenix was No. 17 in points allowed per 100 possessions and No. 18 in opponent field goal percentage.

Those aren’t elite rankings, no, but the context is that Phoenix was a young and inexperienced team without an interior anchor that overachieved defensively.

In New York, Hornacek will have two players who can anchor the defensive interior: Joakim Noah and Kristaps Porzingis. Noah was the 2014 Defensive Player of the Year and Porzingis was No. 16 in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage at the rim as a rookie.

Hornacek’s claim to fame may be the Suns’ offensive execution, but he pushes his players defensively. That brings us to No. 2.

Apr 14, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Gerald Green (14) against the Los Angeles Clippers at US Airways Center. The Clippers beat the Suns 112-101. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

2. The Gerald Green Situation

As previously established, Jeff Hornacek will help players shine offensively if they offer something in return: defensive intensity. That’s the reason he and Gerald Green had a falling out; Green was shining as a scorer, but Hornacek wanted more from him on defense.

While many will simply look at the fact that he and a player had a difference of opinion, Hornacek wasn’t in the wrong for benching one of his go-to scorers.

Green averaged 10.4 points on 41.9 percent shooting in 2006-07, but he wasn’t even in the NBA in 2009-10 and 2010-11. He shined in limited action in 2011-12 and struggled in 2012-13 before Hornacek tapped into his upside in 2013-14.

One year after averaging 7.0 points on a slash line of .366/.314/.800 in Indiana, Green averaged a career-high 15.8 points on a slash line of .448/.400/.848 with Hornacek.

Green was publicly upset with his decline in playing time in 2014-15, but Jeff Hornacek cited his defensive inconsistency as the reason why. Per Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic:

“The next guy is going, ‘I needed help here and the guy wasn’t here.’ We’re trying to develop something for the future, not just being out here for everybody to play in the game. We want to get to a top-notch winning level and you’ve got to do it on both sides.”

Let’s check the numbers.

In 2013-14, Green held opponents to 41.4 percent shooting from the field—2.9 percent below their average field goal percentage. In 2014-15, however, opponents shot 45.7 percent against Green—2.7 percent higher than their average field goal percentage.

Green is a talented offensive player, Hornacek’s reason for lowering Green’s minutes is corroborated by the numbers: he stopped trying on defense.

Apr 10, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Sun 90-75. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Record

The biggest knock on Jeff Hornacek is that he’s coming to the New York Knicks with a losing record of 101-112 as a head coach. That’s all fine and well, but context is key—even when the statistics appear strong enough to tell the whole story.

The context of Hornacek’s career record as a head coach is that he led the Phoenix Suns to severe overachievement in two of his three seasons at the helm.

During his first season at the helm, 2013-14, Hornacek led the Suns to a record of 48-34. He was No. 2 in Coach of the Year voting, ranked No. 2 in first-place votes behind Gregg Popovich, and received the most second-place votes.

For perspective, the Suns accumulated a record of 25-57 in 2012-13 and Eric Bledsoe missed 39 games in 2013-14.

Even still, Hornacek led an almost identical Suns roster to a 23-win improvement during his first season in Phoenix.

During his second season with the Suns, Hornacek led Phoenix to a 29-25 record at the All-Star Break. The Suns proceeded to trade both Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas, thus leading to Phoenix finishing the season at 39-43.

Thus, while his below-.500 career record isn’t exactly encouraging, the context implies that it’s not the full story.

Hornacek may or may not save the New York Knicks from mediocrity, but he’s a much better coach than he’s being given credit for.